1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing a task force
1.3 	on licensing and alternative quality assurance.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. TASK FORCE ON LICENSING AND ALTERNATIVE
1.6 	QUALITY ASSURANCE.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Purpose. A task force on licensing and
1.8 	alternative quality assurance is established to explore funding
1.9 	options to improve and support the Department of Human Services'
1.10 	licensing and quality assurance system for persons with
1.11 	developmental disabilities.
1.12 		Subd. 2.Membership. The commissioner of human services,
1.13 	in consultation with the Minnesota Region 10 Quality Assurance
1.14 	Commission, shall appoint 15 members to the task force,
1.15 	including representatives of interested stakeholder groups,
1.16 	counties, and Department of Human Services staff.
1.17 		Subd. 3.Task force duties. The duties of the task force
1.18 	on licensing and alternative quality assurance include the
1.19 	following:
1.20 	(1) recommending the specific components for a
1.21 	comprehensive quality assurance and licensing system;
1.22 	(2) recommending steps for implementation of a
1.23 	comprehensive statewide quality assurance and licensing system;
1.24 	(3) examining whether an entity outside of the Department
2.1 	of Human Services can administer a statewide quality assurance
2.2 	licensing system and exploring the benefits and problems in
2.3 	using such an independent entity;
2.4 	(4) proposing an organizational structure, including
2.5 	community-based regional implementation for a quality and
2.6 	licensing system;
2.7 	(5) developing recommendations on the amount and sources of
2.8 	funding necessary for a statewide quality assurance and
2.9 	licensing system, including consideration of whether federal
2.10 	Medicaid administrative funds and a portion of home and
2.11 	community-based services waiver funds can be used and, if so, to
2.12 	what extent; and 
2.13 	(6) developing recommendations on implementation of a
2.14 	statewide system of quality assurance and licensing for a final
2.15 	report.
2.16 		Subd. 4.Meetings. At a minimum, meetings of the task
2.17 	force must be conducted according to Minnesota Statutes, chapter
2.18 	13D.  During the 2006-2007 biennium, the task force must meet at
2.19 	least quarterly.
2.20 		Subd. 5.Report. The task force shall report to the
2.21 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human
2.22 	services with recommendations on implementation of a statewide
2.23 	system of quality assurance and licensing by December 15, 2006.